(Potential) Top 2026 HC Candidates

[CarolinaLivin]

Now all of a sudden we want to follow the jay-z 7 year plan (joking). I see everyone’s point. I see reasons to move on and reasons to give at least one more year. I would likely prefer a new HC but new isn’t always better. They’ll make their decision and ill follow along like the sad fan i have been all these years. 

[Matthias]

We should take a look at David Shaw.

[amcoolio]

If they want to draft a 1st round QB they can’t keep Canales, otherwise you are locking into him for 3 more years. If the Panthers suck the rest of the season you have to do it. 
 

I think Day will be the next Harbaugh if he jumps up, but I doubt he’d come here unless Tepper would throw eleventy billion dollars at him.

[csx]

Im partial to defensive oriented coaches as HC in order to establish some toughness. 

Offensive coaches have been the worst offenses and overall teams we've had. 

Edited October 3, 2025 by csx

[strato]

18 minutes ago, csx said:

Im partial to defensive oriented coaches as HC in order to establish some toughness. 

Offensive coaches have been the worst offenses and overall teams we've had. 

 

That’s me too. There are exceptions. Dan Campbell is tough his teams are tough. He was a big old TE and was tough. 
 

But the norm seems to be finesse teams come from offensive guys. That has always been my impression.  

Edited October 3, 2025 by strato

[toldozer]

Id like to see Canales with a non Bryce QB and a different dc before firing him

[SmokinwithWilly]

Hate to say it but we can't fire DC right now. He was basically forced to work with BY as part of his conditions for being hired and hasn't really had the opportunity to get a QB of his own. That's not a good look when you're interviewing new candidates. A coach has to be given the chance to do his job with players that fit what he does and DC hasn't been given that chance. Fire him and you're putting another box on the list to keep coaches from coming here. Plus, Morgan needs to be given another year as well so he can either show he's can have a successful draft or he's a bust as well so the whole damn show can be flipped and started over with a president of football operations and build from there. No more hold overs. Empty the damn building and start with a brand new staff. 

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

Hate to say it but we can't fire DC right now. He was basically forced to work with BY as part of his conditions for being hired and hasn't really had the opportunity to get a QB of his own. That's not a good look when you're interviewing new candidates. A coach has to be given the chance to do his job with players that fit what he does and DC hasn't been given that chance. Fire him and you're putting another box on the list to keep coaches from coming here. Plus, Morgan needs to be given another year as well so he can either show he's can have a successful draft or he's a bust as well so the whole damn show can be flipped and started over with a president of football operations and build from there. No more hold overs. Empty the damn building and start with a brand new staff. 

I dont think you can fire him either but I do wonder what tepper would do if we dont crack 5 wins.   On the flip side we cannot let Dave pick a qb in the draft if his seat is hot.  Its a conundrum for sure.  One of Teppers makings.

[strato]

58 minutes ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

Hate to say it but we can't fire DC right now. He was basically forced to work with BY as part of his conditions for being hired and hasn't really had the opportunity to get a QB of his own. That's not a good look when you're interviewing new candidates. A coach has to be given the chance to do his job with players that fit what he does and DC hasn't been given that chance. Fire him and you're putting another box on the list to keep coaches from coming here. Plus, Morgan needs to be given another year as well so he can either show he's can have a successful draft or he's a bust as well so the whole damn show can be flipped and started over with a president of football operations and build from there. No more hold overs. Empty the damn building and start with a brand new staff. 

I mean, it is yet another year on top of a big stack of years, if it fails. But I think that is reasonable. That’s three years and fair enough. 

[Dilla]

If Canales is fired after this season, we need to go ahead and take off any names that will have options or the ability to wqait another year or two like Ben Johnson did.

So for me, the realistic top options for Carolina from that list would be:

 

Mike McCarthy (3rd HC stint, will not be picky)

Bill Belichick (NFL teams will not be knocking on his door, will not be picky)

Brian Flores (tense first stint, pending lawsuit will scare teams away)

Robert Salah (2nd HC stint, will probably not be picky)

Mike Kafka (starpower has cooled, will need to accept a offer before it totally goes away)

Arthur Smith (2nd stint, UNC may also be interested if Belichick is one and done, but he would likely prefer to stay in NFL)

Jim Schwartz (2nd stint, hasn't really done interviews)

Jeff Hafley (Has HC experience in college, I don't think teams will be knocking down his door, he will probably accept an offer)

 

[Johnstonny]

Jeez....gone down this road again. Dipper coulda hired Harbaugh who is a prick but knows football and is successful. But his micro penis couldn't handle the truth about the true state of football in his organization.

[methodtoll]

Personally, I rather see what Canales can do with a new QB and DC before pulling the trigger. 

If he is really hell bent on bringing the old "Seattle" days with him, hire someone that was apart of the Legion of Boom. I could see someone like Kris Richard coming here (currently Jacksonville's DB coach) to be the DC. 

As for QB, I have no clue who Canales would bring in if Young is gone. Obviously the most familiar name to him would be Russell Wilson or maybe Drew Lock as a bridge QB and then maybe draft one to sit behind him. 

[SmokinwithWilly]

7 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

I dont think you can fire him either but I do wonder what tepper would do if we dont crack 5 wins.   On the flip side we cannot let Dave pick a qb in the draft if his seat is hot.  Its a conundrum for sure.  One of Teppers makings.

I don't want him drafting a QB either. Id rather find a FA QB that sort of fits that mold to see if he can do anything with his system. Thats partially why I'd like to get a Howell or Winston type now so they'd have longer to get acclimated to the system for next year, even if we finish the year with Bryce. 

[MRenshaw]

Not sure why so many are calling for a new coach. Look at what Canales has to work with at QB, the most important position on the field? I bet 70% of plays Canales wants had to be thrown out because that lil midget couldn't make the throws. First, we get a NFL caliber QB next year, then we see what Canales can do with him, then we decide whether to keep the coach. Please don't let that little coach killer kill yet another head coach.